LOS ANGELES – USC’s early-season candidate for an MVP has to be
the team’s schedule maker.

Whoever served up Hawaii first and Virginia second at home must
have been clairvoyant. Two closer-than-expected wins have the
Trojans at 2-0 — and maybe moving backward.

Not exactly what USC wanted. In a year that it has no shot at
the Bowl Championship Series title, impressing voters in The
Associated Press poll — and wowing its fans — are the kind of
baubles they are seeking. Besides pleasing themselves, of
course.

So far, not that good, all the way around.

A 17-14 win over Virginia on Saturday night left the Trojans
feeling unfulfilled, even if it is only two games into the season
and the Lane Kiffin Era.

“There was no celebration,” said defensive tackle Jurrell Casey,
after USC muddled its way through a sea of penalty flags and
offensive miscues Saturday. “We know we’re supposed to be ‘SC —
one of the greatest programs in the country. We shouldn’t have
close games like this.”

The Trojans began the season No. 14 in the AP poll. They dropped
two spots after the defense kept Hawaii in Game 1. Who knows where
voters will put USC after they get a look at the three-point win at
home over an off-the-radar Virginia team?

The Trojans weren’t overwhelmed by the Cavaliers. They just
couldn’t get rid of them. Even after the victory, USC still felt
like ants were crawling around their clothes.

“We didn’t play that well,” said placekicker Joe Houston, whose
34-yard field goal with 5:52 left in the game gave USC its only
two-possession lead of the night, 17-7.

“We have high expectations of ourselves, so it’s kind of a
somber mood right now.”

Kiffin looked like his dog ran away, explaining how upset he was
that the Trojans family couldn’t enjoy a big, lopsided pummeling
like they’re used to.

“The anticipation, the buildup,” he said of the Trojans home
opener. “I feel disappointment for Trojans fans. I know how
disappointed they might be.

“If we could have just blown it open the second half, it might
have felt like the old days.”

It figures to feel like the new days as long as the Trojans keep
attracting the attention of the referees. Kiffin promised they
would clean up their 100 yards in penalties after the Hawaii
game.

They went the other way. USC incurred 13 penalties for 140
yards.

“We must lead the world in penalties,” Kiffin said.

Saturday the flags suffocated the offense, wrecking continuity
and nullifying several key plays.

“It’s something we were working on all week,” said safety T.J,
McDonald of the penalties. “We’ll work on it some more.”

It wasn’t all bad. It just felt like it. Quarterback Matt
Barkley threw two more touchdown passes, for seven on the season,
without an interception. Freshman tailback Dillon Baxter made his
first, highly anticipated appearance, running for 49 yards on nine
carries.

And freshman wide receiver Robert Woods made a sprinting,
stretching gem of a catch for a 40-yard gain that set up the
Trojans first touchdown.

On the field after the game, he shrugged off the “ugly” aspect
of the night.